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Noisy Gypsy removal backfires

BRUSSELS (AP) — A plan by a Belgian mayor to remove a group of Gypsies by playing loud music backfired when the camping cars stayed put and the children danced to the music.

The group, with some 30 vehicles, arrived in the town of Landen, east of Brussels, late Sunday and Mayor Gino Debroux said they overstayed their welcome. After the music played for some time without apparently disturbing the Gypsies, both sides negotiated and Debroux said the Gypsies would stay until Thursday.

Bruno Tobback, leader of Debroux’s Socialist party, tweeted on Wednesday it was “not a good idea of Landen to chase Gypsies with music.”

The Minorities Forum said in a statement that “loud music won’t solve any problem. It will only move it elsewhere.”